Anti-radiation devices mooted at Delhi borders

A week after radioactive Cobalt-60 was found in a scrap market in New Delhi and seven people were hospitalized with burn injuries, municipal authorities have proposed an action plan to deal with hazardous wastes, including the installation of anti-radioactive devices at the borders.

A week after radioactive Cobalt-60 was found in a scrap market in New Delhi and seven people were hospitalized with burn injuries, municipal authorities on Thursday have proposed an action plan to deal with hazardous wastes, including the installation of anti-radioactive devices at the borders.

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At the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) standing committee meeting on Thursday, members criticised last week's accident and discussed how the radioactive waste ended up in the national capital's largest scrap market also considered among the largest in Asia.

"This is a very sensitive and serious issue. We propose that at the national capital's border (points) anti-radiation machines (or detectors) should be placed. This should also be done on the highways. Proper protection needs to be given to residents and such incidents should be avoided," said Meera Aggarwal, municipal councillor who is also a standing committee member.

After much discussion, remaining Bharatiya Janata Party councillors as well as Congress-led opposition councillors held that in addition to this, the government should conduct a survey of scrap dealers in the national capital as well as the nature of materials procured by them.

"We will look into all these issues," assured the committee's chairperson Ram Kishan Singhal.